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Pay freeze should be decided this week

Today is the first day of what, supposedly, is the last week of the 111th Congress.

We should know by the end of the week whether the President's proposed pay freeze will extend one year, two years or not happen at all. While most agree there's likely to be a freeze of some sort adopted, Senate Republicans have vowed tax cuts will get their first attention, pushing all other business aside.

While the House passed a new continuing resolution last week funding the federal government through the end of FY 2011, Senate Appropriations Chairman Inouye (D-HI), at last check, still intends to insert an omnibus package of all 12 regular appropriations bills. Some Senate Republicans have a plan of their own, substituting a shorter CR to fund operations through February, after the 112th Congress is sworn in.

While three plans are in play, the options of when something needs to be passed is more limited. Without funding of some sort, the current CR expires Saturday. Funding must be passed before 12:01 am on the 19th to avert a shutdown.